How to Host Your First Hanukkah Party

From cooking to crafts.

Your first Jewish rite of passage is your Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The next is when you muster up the energy to host your own Hanukkah party. From Tuesday, Dec. 12 to Wednesday, Dec. 20 this year, we remember a dark time for the Jews that ended in light.

Here's why we do it every year: When Syrian King Antiochus forced Jews to assimilate 2,500 years ago and bow down to a statue of him, it was considered a sin. Playing dreidel — the practice of spinning a Jewish fidget spinner to win money or chocolate — is said to have helped Jewish children blend in, since gambling was a common Syrian practice. The Maccabees revolted on behalf of the Jews, reclaiming Jerusalem from the Syrians. The three-year war left their Jewish temple shattered. Upon rebuilding the temple, they honored God with a single candle. In the jar was a tiny amount of oil that miraculously burned for eight days.

If you attended Hanukkah parties as a child or remember watching your parents slave over cooking and crafts, you might be able to pass down family traditions to your friends. But if you’re starting from scratch, you get to make the holiday your own. And sharing your personality along with your heritage is way more interesting for both you and your lucky guests. Here, your tips for hosting your first Hanukkah party that's bound to be good, clean, kosher fun.

Décor

If you still have your Hashmonayim watercolor paintings from Hebrew school, by all means — deck out your halls. But for some elevated flair, take cues from Instagram user woodiesigns: pierce holes in wood chips, thread them with twine, and use acrylic paint to decorate.

Not sure where to get one? Online retailers and Judaica stores carry a wide variety of price ranges and styles from treated wood to gold-plated to glass. Your campus or local Chabad will also be able to give you a basic one for free along with all the candles you’ll need for the eight days. Here's what to do:

Start at sun down (check the exact times — you’d be surprised how dark it gets early in the evening!).

Starting on the far right, begin to place your candles into the holders, ensuring they are all the same height. Use the number of candles corresponding to that day of Hanukkah it is, i.e.: use four candles on day four.

If your kitchen doesn't smell like the inside of a deep fryer, you’re doing it wrong. Hanukkah staples include oil-heavy latkas (round hashbrowns) and soufganyot (jelly donuts). The main meal is typically meat-free and pretty dairy-centric, with offerings including festive salads, bagels and lox, blintzes (blueberry jam or sweet cheese rolled into crepes), and verenikas (potato or cheese peirogies).

Try Levana Cook's latka recipes in either potato, sweet potato, or vegetable. Top them with applesauce and sour cream.

For dessert, there’s nothing more lit than an edible menorah. Have everyone bring their favorite fillings and toppings and sort them into stations (think ice cream like vanilla bean mochi, rainbow sprinkles, pudding, diced strawberries and cherries, granola and nuts) to create their own menorah made of chocolate sundae bites. Everyone receives nine empty dark chocolate cups. Fill each chocolate cup with two tablespoons of filling. Insert a chocolate Pocky stick into each cup to mimic candles.

Instagram. Filter. Devour.

Games

Contrary to what it might look like, you don’t actually have to gamble away your savings, playing dreidel. The whole point is to play for chocolate gelt or coins. If you want to stick to tradition, follow these guidelines from My Jewish Learning.

You can buy a pack of 25 plastic dreidels for under $15 in case they get lost under the couch, or a statement dreidel to put on display year round.

Music

'Tis the season to belt out your loudest rendition of Ha Nerot Halalu, Ma'oz Tsur and Sevivon Sov Sov Sov. When your throats hurt, let the speakers take over. In the spirit of the Jewish holiday, jam to Jewish artists like Drake, P!nk, Action Bronson, Mac Miller, Asher Roth, and Matisyahu. For optimal acoustics, opt for a surround sound system.